Marc Dedman is a Partner in the Nashville office with over 30 years of both civil and common law experience. His practice primarily focuses on insurance coverage and bad faith claims, commercial litigation, risk management and mitigation, and mediation.

Marc counsels his clients on the complexities of purchasing and managing insurance and using insurance as part of an overall risk and financial management program. A significant portion of his practice focuses on first-party and third-party insurance coverage claims; insurance recovery and dispute resolution; risk management; cost containment; and crisis management.

Marc is deeply familiar with insurance companies, insurance policies, and the law determining whether a loss may be covered by an insurance policy. He translates the complexities of insurance language for his clients, enabling them to effectively interpret these contracts to be able to better avoid denials or delays in claims. His clients primarily include public and private companies, organizations, boards of directors, individual officers, and other policyholders. He also frequently advises and represents insurance brokers on coverage issues. 

He also works with policyholders to analyze, negotiate, and manage terms and contracts to minimize risk, expedite payment, and limit the possibility of litigation. If litigation becomes inevitable, Marc’s extensive trial experience allows him to persuasively advocate in both state and federal courts for the coverage to which his clients are entitled. His representation has included complex litigation with very high claimed damages. His experience in resolving problems after they occur has also made him a valuable ally in helping to avoid problems before they occur for his domestic and international clients alike.

Along with his history as a strong advocate in the courtroom, Marc has also been very effective in alternate dispute resolution proceedings. Marc is also certified by the Supreme Court of the State of Tennessee as a Rule 31 General Civil Mediator. With this distinction, Marc is certified to also serve as a neutral, assisting parties in their resolution of disputes through a voluntary settlement process that is less costly, less time-consuming, and less disruptive than litigation.

In addition to his insurance expertise, Marc puts his MBA to work in collaborating with the firm’s transactional, cybersecurity, tax, and corporate attorneys to offer a comprehensive set of business services to clients. He remains an active and outstanding leader in the international business community and is also consulted by international law firms for his capabilities spanning across multiple practice areas.

Marc is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association International Law and Practice Section Executive Committee. He is also Vice Chair of the International Practice Committee of the International Society of Primerus Law Firms, where he also serves as Chair of the Insurance Practice Group, which includes lawyers from six continents. He has moderated international panels, including at Belmont University School of Law in Nashville, Tennessee; Tulane University School of Law in New Orleans, Louisiana; and for events in Washington, D.C. and Miami, Florida.

Practices:

  • Business Transactions
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Insurance

Industry Experience:

  • Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations
  • Construction
  • Finance
  • Food and Hospitality
  • Healthcare
  • Manufacturing and Distribution

Honors:

  • AV-Preeminent rating, Martindale-Hubbell
  • Best Lawyers in America – 2021 to Present
  • Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America
  • Selected to Super Lawyers, 2018-2022
  • Best of Bar, International, Nashville Business Journal, 2017; 2019
  • Fellow, Nashville Bar Foundation since 2015
  • Recipient, Tennessee Supreme Court Certificate of Recognition for pro bono service 2017; 2018, 2019

Education:

  • Certified as a Rule 31 Listed General Civil Mediator for the State of Tennessee
  • Columbia University, M.B.A. (Double major: Finance; Money and Financial Markets)
  • Tulane University, J.D.
  • Loyola University New Orleans, B.B.A. (Finance)

Admissions:

  • State of Louisiana (Inactive – in good standing)
  • State of Tennessee
  • All Tennessee Trial and Appellate Courts
  • Tennessee Supreme Court
  • United States District Courts, Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Tennessee
  • United States Supreme Court

Memberships/Affiliations:

Tennessee Bar Association International Law and Practice Section Member, Executive Council, 2019-present

International Association of Primerus Law Firms

  • Chair – Insurance Subcommittee, International Practice Committee, 2020-present
  • Vice Chair – International Practice Committee, 2019-present
  • Chair – Quality Assurance Board, 2019-present
  • Board of Directors, 2014-2015; 2019-2020
  • U.S. Chair, Primerus Defense Institute, 2012-2013
  • CLE Chair, Primerus Defense Institute, 2010-2011
  • Chair, International Committee, 2018; 2019

Loyola University, New Orleans, College of Business

Best Buddies – Tennessee, Advisory Board

  • Member, 2019-present
  • Vice Chair, 2022-present

Aquinas College, Nashville (TN)

  • Chair, Board of Directors Executive Committee, 2015-2017
  • Board of Directors, 2012-2017